THE 189 signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) yesterday agreed on a detailed plan to curb the spread of atomic weapons, including future moves towards establishing a nuclear weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
The 28-page declaration, which Irish diplomats played a key role in drafting, was approved by consensus on the final day of a month-long conference in New York.
The NPT review conference is held every five years to advance implementation of the 40-year-old treaty, the main international mechanism for curbing the spread of nuclear weapons.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin welcomed the outcome of the conference, noting that nuclear disarmament efforts had been a foreign policy priority for successive Irish governments.
The final declaration, he said, represented a significant step forward even though the language adopted by the conference was “less strong” than Ireland and a majority at the gathering would have liked.
Mr Martin noted that the NPT is facing serious challenges, and he singled out proliferation threats posed by Iran and North Korea.
“The conference has responded by strengthening the implementation of the non-proliferation provisions of the treaty,” he said.
During the conference, Ireland worked with its partners in the “New Agenda Coalition” to hold nuclear-armed states to their treaty obligations.
“There have been some indications of a greater willingness on their part to acknowledge their nuclear disarmament obligations and be more open about their nuclear strategies,” Mr Martin said.
The US and UK provided detailed figures about their respective atomic weapon stockpiles. “Ireland will continue to monitor the undertakings given at the conference to make sure that promises made are kept.”
Mr Martin said he was particularly pleased that a “significant breakthrough” was made on the resolution calling for a nuclear weapons-free Middle East.
The final statement calls for the holding a conference in 2012 “to be attended by all states of the Middle East, leading to the establishment” of a nuclear-free zone.
It also mentions “the importance of Israel’s accession to the treaty and the placement of all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) safeguards.”
Ireland was asked to help negotiate a way forward on this issue. Mr Martin described the resolution as “one of the most politically sensitive issues” of the conference.
“Although this resolution dates from 1995, too little progress has been made in its implementation. Understandably, this has been a cause of immense frustration, especially – though not only – in the Arab world,” he said.
Mr Martin said the limited breakthrough on the Middle East came after years of stalemate.
He singled out Alison Kelly, a diplomat at his department, for praise.
Ms Kelly chaired the working group which dealt with the thorny Middle East resolution.